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looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:47 am
by samanderson4
Looking for a 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions in late September early October. I generally go around the Eastern Sierras in the areas of Mt. Whitney, Big Pine, Lone Pine, Cotton Wood etc... Looking for something that is very uncrowded, with some good fishing areas and scenery. I try to do about 8 miles per day, but I'm in excellent shape so a few more miles won't hurt. Have not ever ventured into the Sequoia area, but might be willing to if things look good.

Thanks,

Sam

Re: looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:08 pm
by gregw822
Welcome Sam,

You'll need to narrow things down a bit. The Sierra is vast. There are near-limitless possibilities. I would say you'd have trouble finding a 3-day trip where there are few people, but in your case, late September/early October should be uncrowded wherever you go. Just get copies of Sierra North and Sierra South and pick something. It's hard to go wrong in the Sierra. You'll find folks here to be very helpful, but you need to do some background work and narrow down to a few options. As it is, we'd just be taking shots in the dark to recommend something.

Re: looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:34 pm
by samanderson4
I'm looking for something off of the 395 around Lone Pine, Big Pine area. I have done the North Fork of the Big Pine tail a few times and loved it. Last year I tried something new and went to cotton wood lakes in October. All I have to say was it was like a freeway.
I have never been to the Sequoia side of the sierras, but if there are any great suggestions, I would be willing to try something in that area. I was thinking about Big Five and Little Five Lakes Loop out of Mineral Kings, but was not sure how it would compare to the North Fork of the Big Pine trail.

Sam

Re: looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:55 pm
by maverick
Hi Sam

Welcome to HST!
BFL-LFL trip out of Mineral King is a beautiful trip, but not for 3-4 days, maybe for 5-6
days, especially with the days being much shorter in October, plus the road to MK may
not be open.
These places are north of the area your requesting I would recommend going from Agnew
Meadows (Mammoth area) up the Shadow Lake Trail to Lake Ediza for night one, and
then visit Garnet & 1000 Is Lake and exit via the High Trail.
Four days for this trip is fine without having to rush, with good fishing, and excellent
scenery.
Also the middle fork (Sabrina Lake) or north fork bishop creek (North Lake) trail leads
to numerous lakes with good fishing, and great scenery.

Re: looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:24 am
by diesel
Mineral King is awesome...I did the big five/little lakes loop in 3 days last year on labor day weekend (if you are referring to the loop that starts toward franklin pass, then to little claire lakes, and eventually to the big five/little five lakes, then up and over black rock pass and timber gap). It's a wonderful trip, but given your preference for 8 mile days, I agree with Maverick that it seems better suited for a 5 day journey.

You can shorten the mileage and do a 3 or 4 day loop that still includes big and little five lakes by going down timber gap to cliff creek, up and over black rock pass, then to the little 5/big 5 lakes, and eventually down sawtooth pass (should be fairly obvious on the map). I think that loop is a little under 30 miles.

Re: looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:20 pm
by Kelbaker
One of my favorite weekend hikes is out of independence starting at Onion Valley to Kearsarge Lakes. But, if you have a couple more nights you could do Glen Pass into Rae Lakes or 60 Lakes Basin then back out.

Re: looking for 3-4 day backpacking trip suggestions

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:37 pm
by samanderson4
Thanks, I think I'm leaning towards Mineral King.